Ronald L. Carter, the 13th president of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, announced that he will step down at the end of the 2016-17 academic year. Dr. Carter has led the university since 2008. No reason was given for the decision for Dr. Carter to leave his post. But both Dr. Carter and the board of trustees issued statements complimentary of each other.

Before coming to Johnson C. Smith University, Dr. Carter was provost and dean of the faculty at Coker College in Hartsville, South Carolina. Earlier he was the youngest person to serve as dean of students at Boston University. He also spent five years at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, serving as head of the health services development unit and as dean of students.

Dr. Carter is a magna cum laude graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he majored in sociology and philosophy. He holds a master’s degree in theology and a Ph.D. in the philosophy of religion from Boston University.

Leave a Reply

Due to incidents of abuse and harassment that have occurred in the past, JBHE will not publish telephone numbers or email addresses of individuals in this space. If you want to contact someone in a particular article, we suggest you contact them directly not in an open forum.

Which statement best reflects your view regarding protests by African American professional athletes during the playing of the national anthem?

I believe the protests are useful in drawing attention to continuing racial inequality.

I do not support the protests but believe strongly that these athletes have the right to do so.

These athletes have become very successful and should show respect to their country.